This was our taxi and I was sitting in the last row – in the middle! Oh, well. It was a beautiful day!

Our first stop was overlooking a lovely beach on a tropical paradise. It was not easy to take pictures from the back row but I managed to snap this one. If you look closely, in the center of the photo, you will see two people snorkeling.

The next beach was more populated but just as lovely. The first photo gives you an idea of what I was contending with.

The water was so beautiful!

So were the flowers and the trees!

Hope you are enjoying these – more to follow!

P.S. This was my 75th posting since starting on July 1, 2012!

Today is 5/15/13. What shall we do?

I’ve decided not to share any gory dead bodies with you this week, even though it’s part of what I’ve been working on. You can return to your regularly scheduled breakfasts/lunches/whatever (still sorry about that…). Here’s 15 paragraphs (because dialogue) from a scene that takes place at the top of Cabot Tower. I wish I could share the end of this scene, but rules are rules, b’ys. Shivva and Daniel are in the middle of a training session, trying to open her up to the non-physical senses she (as a vampire) should be able to use. “The teenagers” are a pair of kids in the car in the parking lot, and have thus far been almost ignored by the blood-suckers on top of the tower. Shivva has already lost one fight (and been thrown off of the tower in the process). Good times.

Cabot Tower (photo via Wikipedia)

-

“Let’s try it. Sneak up on me.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, that works. Close your eyes. I may or may not be back.”

He drops off of the edge of the tower like it was three feet to the ground instead of fifty. His shoes hit the ground with a loud thwack, but his movements that follow are silent. I close my eyes and breathe in the salt-fresh air of this place that’s become my home. Waves mumble over the rocks far below me. My body is silent, not even a heartbeat to distract my ears.

A minute later a sharp rapping noise splits the air, and Daniel yells, “Hey! Leave room for the holy spirit, kids!” I snort, imagining the teenagers in the car jumping apart. That, or giving him the finger. So that places him a short walk down a slight slope, downwind. I won’t smell him as he approaches. I won’t hear him, either; Daniel moves like a cat when he wants to.

I focus inward, feeling for him from a part of myself that’s beyond human senses. It’s not his physical presence I need to be aware of, but that part of him that wants to harm me. Specific markers like that are always easiest, especially when dealing with strangers. Malicious intent approaches, clear and deadly. Behind me, moving to the side. When he strikes out, I’m ready. I roll away, up on my feet just before I hit the low wall. He doesn’t pursue.

“Good. Too easy, but good.”

That’s the only kind of praise Daniel gives, so I’m satisfied with it. He’s right, anyway. It was too easy. “You know, it would be much more challenging with a trainer who didn’t actually want to maim and destroy me.”

He smirks. If there were days when he went easy on me, I certainly don’t remember them. “Stop being a wuss, Shiv. That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and all of that.”

“Well, I’m dead. Does that make me invincible, or the weakest thing ever?”

“Moot point. Try again. I’m going to make it harder.”

“That’s what she said.” I position myself in the center of the roof and close my eyes, and he disappears. Really. I lose all sense of him as soon as he’s gone. It’s disconcerting, but I square my shoulders and wait. He’ll be back. Even if he changes his plan of attack, I’ll feel him coming. Punching, kicking, pulling my hair, tossing me off of the roof again…

Cold lips press onto mine, and strong arms pull my shocked body close. Hands tangle in my hair. Cold hands. My mind explodes in confusion. How? I should pull away, but my body betrays me, acting on its own just as it did when I blocked his attack earlier. My mouth opens under his, and the most incredible feeling washes over me as I rise up onto my toes to push myself farther into him. The world around me stops moving. And then he’s gone, pulling back, leaving me to stumble forward into the space where he stood a moment ago.

He’s got that cocky smile on his face. “Your methods are flawed, dear student. You assume too much.”

“That’s not fair!” It’s all I can do to not stomp my foot in a childish fit of confusion and anger. “Nobody who actually wants to hurt me is going to sneak up to kiss me!”

“No?” I barely dodge the kick that would have sent me over the edge again. “Well, there’s your lesson for tonight.”

-

Want to join in WIPpet Wednesday? Here’s the link. Have a gander at the other lovely works posted, share the comment love, and add your own. Yes, it is that easy. After all…

Thank you to K.L. Schwengel, our fan-frigging-tastic host, for making that!

* * *

ROW80 Update:

Eh. 1,380 words on Sunday, none on Monday (though I did manage to make a stuffed cat out of an argyle sock, yay me), 200 on Tuesday. My brain isn’t able to focus right now. I don’t know whether it’s from the change in my meds or just a normal fluctuation in my mental workings.  Either way, booooooooo.

Already accomplished 4 blog posts (including this one), plus one scheduled. Yay.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

ANYWAYS, the new flavours are awesome. Here they are:

• Pink Passionfruit (Herbal Tea)
• Tropicalia (Herbal Tea)
• Mango Fruit Punch (Herbal Tea) – I can’t have this one… I’m allergic to mangoes
• Coconut Grove (White Tea)
• Mint Julep (Black Tea)

http://www.davidstea.com/the-summer-collection-2013?&TF=&DEID=

I purchased each one except for Mango Fruit Punch, but I have heard that it is unreal. I also nabbed a fancy Leakproof Iced Tea Tumbler and I am happy to report that it kept true to its word! No leaks coming from my tumbler.

I am usually skeptical in trying teas with chocolate as an ingredient, but I recently tried Read My Lips and it is very delicious. It tastes like the After Eight mints or the Mint Chocolate Girl Guide cookies. I purchased 50 grams of this flavour and I don’t think it will last a week in my house.

http://www.davidstea.com/read-my-lips?&TF=&DEID=

“Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.” 
― Sydney Smith, A memoir of the Rev. Sydney Smith

I know I’ve mentioned some of the benefits of tea, but I wanted to elaborate on the different kinds of teas and their benefits;

White Tea

• White tea is the least processed of all teas and contains the highest antioxidant levels.
• It has a profound amount of power against cancer-causing cells and against different types of cancers.
• White tea has been found to work as a prescription drug and without all the side effects.
• It is known to reduce blood sugar and help prevent symptoms of diabetes.
• It is also known to reduce stress and increases energy levels.

White Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTEA: Made from fresh, young silver leaves and buds, this delicate tea is as close to the living tea bush as you can possibly get. White tea is loved for its light flavour and natural sweetness. 

Green Tea (from my previous blog Eat Clean AKA Tasty Tuesdays!)

• Green tea protects our bones. A study was conducted and compared tea drinkers vs. non-drinkers and it was uncovered that those who drank tea for several years had stronger bones (taking several things into account such as body weight, exercise, smoking and other risk factors.)
• Green Tea is calorie free – Enough said!
• Tea can help increase ones metabolism. Green tea is known to increase the metabolic rate and can help you burn up to 70 to 80 calories a day, just from consuming several cups of green tea.
• It helps prevent cancer. The antioxidants found in tea are known for their cancer-fighting effects.

Green Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTEA: After water, green tea is the most consumed drink on the planet. From vegetal pan-fired Chinese greens to sweet, buttery steam-heated Japanese greens, there are a ton of amazing flavours to explore. 

Oolong Tea

• Oolong tea helps reduce cholesterol build-up in the bloodstream.
• It is known to help prevent heart ailments.
• It promotes longevity by stimulating bodily functions and strengthens the immune system and has been used as a treatment for digestive disorders.
• It helps fight against tooth decay.
• It has potassium content and has a considerable content of the L-Theanine Amino Acid. 

Oolong Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTEA: Oolong tea is somewhere between a black and a green, with a world of variations. The eaves are tightly rolled or twisted so they slowly unfurl in your cup. Try steeping your oolongs multiple times, “gung fu” style. 

Black Tea

• Black tea saves arteries and prevents deadly clogging and reverses poor arterial functioning that can trigger heart attacks and strokes.
• It tames inflammation and is known to have an anti-cancer compound and suppresses the Cox-2 gene that triggers inflammation. 
• Black tea and green tea have the same amount of antioxidants.
• It is known to neutralize germs.

Black Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTea: There’s a whole world of amazing black teas to explore. Like delicate, woodsy Darjeeelings from northern India. Rich, robust breakfast teas from Kenya. Or wild-growing leaves from China’s Yunnan province. 

Pu’erh Tea

• Pu’erh tea is known to lower blood cholesterol levels.
• It has also been used to invigorate the spleen.
• It is used to boost the flow of blood and helps enhance circulation.
• It helps heal aches and pains especially with arthritic patients.
• It aids in fighting off unwanted toxins.

Pu’erh Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTea: In China, earthy pu’erh has been used to aid digestion for over 1700 years. Its name comes from the ancient city of Pu’erh, a popular stop on the trade routes between China and the West. 

Maté Tea

• Maté’s are very rich in antioxidants, so much so that it has 90% more than green teas.
• It is known to enhance ones ability to focus because the chemical compounds and nutrients in maté affect the metabolism to make the body use carbohydrates more efficiently.
• It is also aids in weight loss because the maté stimulant qualities help one feel full sooner after one begins to eat. It slows down digestion and the stomach stays full longer.

Maté Fun Facts by DAVIDsTea: Super-energizing yerba maté is a South American drink of ancient origins. Guayusa, yerba maté’s Ecuadorian cousin, 2000 years of Amazonian tradition. 

Rooibos Tea

• Rooibos tea contains a great deal of antioxidant enzymes called Superoxide Dismutase.
• It is quite rich in the mineral zinc and a plays an important role in regulating the body’s immune system.
• It is high in thiamine, a water-soluble vtamin that the body uses to utilize carbohydrates as an energy source. And is even known as a natural sports drink.

* MY random Fun Fact: It is grouped under the term “Red Tea”, because get this… It’s RED!

Rooibos Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTEA: This taste, caffeine-free infusion comes from the rooibos plant, a small shrub that can only be found in a tiny region of South Africa. It’s a super hydrating, naturally sweet choice, said to be packed with antioxidants. 

Herbal Tea

• Herbal tea helps one achieve a calm, relaxed state of mind.
• It aids in heart health and helps circulation throughout the body.
• It has cleansing properties for the body and helps with stomach and digestive problems.
• It has also nutrients that promotes energy and wellness.

Herbal Tea Fun Facts by DAVIDsTea: WHen it comes to herbal infusions, we like to let out imaginations run wild – seriously, anything goes. We carry infusions of just about everything you can imagine, from classic tsianes to the latest super-fruits. 

RECAP

I know what you’re all thinking, I should be a spokesperson for DAVIDsTEA. What? You’re not? Oh, well I wish I was so lucky!! I could drink DAVIDsTea all day long.

“Surely a pretty woman never looks prettier than when making tea.” 
― Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret

Recipes

In Sundays blog post, I mentioned that I was going to attempt overnight oats. I did make them, but they were an epic fail. I don’t have a proper recipe to share. Once I have perfected them, I will share the recipe/photos with all of you. 

Adventures

On Sunday, I was feeling particularly homesick and wanted to be with my mom on Mother’s Day. She encouraged me to go for a drive and get lost on the rock. I did just that and it was such a beautiful day. 

I went to Topsail Beach, Portugal Cove and Middle Cove Beach. If you’re ever in the St. John’s area, I highly recommend visiting those locations.

Newfoundland & the Atlantic Ocean

Moral of the story, when you’re feeling down in the dumps – go for a drive and get lost. You never know what beautiful places you will find along the way! Thanks Mom for the advice!

Dragonette is one of my favourite artists, they are so unique and are known for their electronic music. And, they’re Canadian to boot!

Don’t forget to follow me on:

• Twitter @CarolineKrucas
• Instagram @Caroline1086
• Pinterest @CarolineKrucas

- Caro

But there’s a twist.

The game will take place in Sioux Falls, S.D., “in an effort to showcase the newly-built, $19 million Sanford Pentagon facility,” according to a Wisconsin press release.

Wisconsin’s showdown with the Red Storm will be played on the 3,250-seat Heritage Court, the centerpiece of the 160,000-square foot facility that makes up the Sanford Pentagon.

“Playing a Bo Ryan-coached Badger team gives us an early-season test and an opportunity to get a report card following an offseason that will include a European tour,” said Lavin. “Having covered the Big Ten for seven years with ESPN, I developed an appreciation for the cohesive brand of basketball Bo Ryan’s teams play. Coach Ryan and I have also partnered in the fight against cancer. We are looking forwarded to competing against Wisconsin and participating in the first-ever college basketball game at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls.”

In August, St. John’s will also take a trip to Europe for 10 days of practice and potentially five exhibition games.

Other key non-conference games for St. John’s include  Ole Miss/Georgia Tech/Penn State in the Barclays Center Classic (Nov. 29-30) and Syracuse at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 15).

“We’re looking to take the next step,” Lavin, whose team went 17-16 and lost in the second round of the NIT last year, told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. “I think next year is the year where we’ll be able to accomplish that.”

The Johnnies figure to be among to the most talented teams in the new-look Big East with the addition of star recruit Rysheed Jordan, the addition of big man Orlando Sanchez and the returns of guard D’Angelo Harrison and forward JaKarr Sampson.

“We have size, skill, athleticism, and depth,” Lavin told CBS Sports. “The pieces are in place for us. The biggest question is, how will we jell as a team?”

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

And like ZAGS on Facebook

Posted May 12, 2013, on http://www.IndySportsLegends.com.

Recently, Jason Collins became the first current player in America’s major sports to come out as gay. With that cultural marker now past, a lot of attention is turning to racially sensitive sports nicknames as the next hurdle to clear.

Daniel Snyder’s comments saying the Washington Redskins would never change their nickname may be popular and based in team history, but the statement is a dumb one when you look at the bigger cultural picture.

Let’s start by stating one absolute, obvious fact. The nickname is racist.

Let’s follow that by stating an absolute, obvious observation. Americans don’t do the racist thing anymore, at least not in public. Unless you’re the Redskins and a handful of other college, high school or youth-level athletic programs who haven’t gotten with the program.

Over the past 20 years, names with Native American ties — some honorable, some questionable, some blatantly derogatory — have disappeared. In the cases of the derogatory, congratulations were deserved for leaders recognizing the negative impact of those names and working to remove them.

In some cases, the logos were just as offensive as the names. Witness the dopey caricature fostered by the St. John’s Redmen as Exhibit A:

While the Redskins catch the most flak for their stubbornness on this matter, other teams still aren’t immune for legitimate criticism. Not so much for the nickname as for the logo or team’s visual identity.

This was borne out during Major League Baseball’s spring training, when the Atlanta Braves broke out the Way Back Machine and returned with hats emblazoned with Chief Nokahoma.

I have always been ambivalent about Nokahoma. It’s a much more accurate picture of a Native American than, say, the Redmen logo or Cleveland’s Chief Wahoo…

…but there’s something unnervingly wrong about the logo that I have never been able to place.

And don’t get me started on Chief Wahoo. That branding campaign should never have been launched.

Being part Choctaw, I really don’t have a problem with certain Native-related nicknames. Maybe I should have a problem with tribal names being used (even those like Fighting Sioux indicating a warlike mentality), but I don’t. Nicknames like Braves and Chiefs and Warriors? I don’t have a problem with those.

I do have a problem when nicknames are blatantly offensive but still widely supported.

When Americans look back at the 1800s and think of Native Americans, they think cowboys and Indians, Custer’s crew wiped out at Little Bighorn and (possibly) reservations. We give lip service reverence to the individual giants like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse of Chief Joseph. As a culture, though, we totally have blocked out the treaty upon treaty broken to gain land. And aside from Wounded Knee, S.D., we turn a blind eye to massacre after massacre.

Case in point: the Choctaws were moved from Mississippi and Alabama to Oklahoma thanks to the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830. Choctaws were given a choice of submitting to U.S. laws or keeping their legal structure and moving — and giving up some 11 million acres of land in the process. The treaty was the sixth one involving both parties in some capacity, each meaning huge chunks of territory were handed over as settlers demanded more and more land (this started well before the Treaty of Hopewell in 1786, which among other things said Americans could never live on Indian land and Indians could punish violators as they saw fit. We see how well that went over.).  The Treaty of Doak’s Stand in 1820 said boundaries wouldn’t change until the Choctaw were “civilized and enlightened” to become U.S. citizens…only to see the boundaries change with the Treaty of Washington City in 1825 and complete removal in 1831.

Back when I was a kid and John Riggins became a household name against the Dolphins, I wouldn’t have cared. Now, when I hear Daniel Snyder’s comments, Snyder’s in-your-face defiance, this litany of disrespect is what comes to mind. Not fourth-and-six from the other team’s 18 with under two minutes to go and trailing by a field goal.

No gathering of 50,000 to 80,000 people chanting and waving the Tomahawk Chop will ever honor the deaths incurred at Wounded Knee or Sand Creek or the displacement of thousands of people thanks to Dancing Rabbit Creek and other similar threads of broken treaties woven into a quilt of nationwide marginalization. Snyder’s dismissive comments continue that marginalization, whether he sees it or not.

So many things are considered offensive these days, and when those concerns are voiced, we take steps to make amends. Except, inexplicably, in this case and with this segment of humankind.

The Redskins name is racist and has to go. People adjusted to talking about the St. John’s Red Storm instead of the Redmen. We can think of another suitable nickname for the Washington Redskins.

Looking deeper, though, what a lot of us need to consider is whether the push towards tolerance includes Native Americans as well as most of the rest of humanity. The fact we’re having this discussion indicts us. It says we’re not where we should be as a culture even though other landmarks are now past.

Keith Hollohan is an old friend from St. John’s.  Back when we were in our early-teens, Keith played guitar in a garage band with  JP Winslow (now a British Columbia based musician/actor), David Joyce and Rick Hollett (Timber, Hollywood Rose).  While Keith never pursued a career in music, it has always been near and dear to his heart and he has never stopped playing. 

(JP Winslow & K Hollohan, circa 1985)

Last year, Keith wrote and recorded a song for his mother and gave it to her as a birthday present.  The song is dedicated to Keith’s mother and all the other mothers in his life.  Keith is sharing this song for Mother’s Day!!! 

I could not figure out how to embed the song into this post, so you will have to click on the link below to hear it.  But hey…it’s Mother’s Day…you can make the extra click today.

Listen to Keith Hollohan - Pedestal of Gold

“Wait! I have something for you!”

She handed me a long stem red rose, laughing, “For Mother’s Day! Well, for you, Future Mother’s Day!” A pause, then: “Just maybe not tonight…”

I have never laughed so hard in my life. Far better than a post-dinner mint!

I was attending a conference in St. John’s and was tardy in booking a hotel room.  By the time I made inquiries the rooms were all taken.  I found accommodation at At Wit’s Inn, a very comfortable Bed and Breakfast (B&B) a 20 minute walk from the conference hotel.  In the end, I am happy to have stayed somewhere unique, quiet and clean, where you are very comfortable and at the same time supporting a small family business.  There are 3 rooms in the B&B.  I’d stay there again.

Have you ever found a no vacancy sign and then found alternate accommodation and felt you got the better end of the deal?

Here are some pictures:

The Narrows

Fort Amhurst Lighthouse

And I’ve just realized I have spots on my lens and my cleaning kit is in Calgary. Oy.

So I invite you to come out to this show. You will be blown away. At this concert you will see some of the finest music written and performed by some of the finest musicians in this province today.

And…here is the poster…

Craft activity at St John’s playgroup

Thursday 16th May 2013

9.30am to 12.00 noon

At St John’s Church, Lewisham Way, SE8 4EA (in the upstairs hall)

Children’s clothes, equipment, toys, books, maternity wear and a pop-up cafe. Admission £1 per adult (children free and there are usually toys out for them to play with whilst you browse).

If you’re interested in selling it costs just £2.50 (to sell up to 20 items). Pop into the St John’s playgroup next Wednesday 15th May and speak to Nannette or Louise. Or email for details: saintjohnsplaygroup@yahoo.co.uk

All profits go to support this lovely, friendly playgroup which is run entirely by volunteers. Come along and support them. Last time we went we bought the most amazingly life like T-rex toy which is still played with regularly.

St. John’s brought the semester students to a “goodbye lunch” this afternoon. We went to Isola della Pizza where there were tables set up for us with platters and platters of all different types of antipasti (appetizers). This was followed by two types of pasta, including the traditional Italian spaghetti cacio e pepe (spaghetti with cheese and pepper). Then we were given a bunch of different pizzas, yelled at by Domenico for not eating everything on the table, and then ate tiramisù for desert. How are these Italians so thin? Bella figura, my butt. I was so full after this meal.

But our day of Italian food wasn’t over yet! After taking our last final of the semester, 17 of us went out to “fancy dinner.” The food was delicious and everyone looked super snazzy. 
People have been scrambling for the last few days to decide what they want to see during their last hours in Rome. I think eating all day with any money you have left is a perfect way to show how much you have appreciated the Italian culture and how much you will miss it. 

Over the course of the day, I have heard the phrase “It was nice to meet you” too many times. There is nothing weirder than seeing two people that have known each other for four months hug each other and say “It was nice to meet you.” So I’ve spent my day pretending I’m going to see everyone again while saying goodbye to my last shower on campus and my last vending machine cappuccino. I really don’t want to say goodbye. 

Some of the students are heading for a six day trip to Greece, others are heading straight back to the States, and a few of us are staying in Europe just a little bit longer.
My Aunt is arriving in Rome in a few hours and we will be traveling to Paris and Greece over the next three weeks. 

I’m happy to be traveling but I’m going to miss spending all my time with the awesome people I’ve met this semester. And it makes me sad when I realize that we don’t actually go to the same school.   

But not to worry, I have another three weeks of European adventures:
Five days to say goodbye to Rome, six to see if I can pull any French from the depths of my memory, six to see some beautiful Greek islands and meet some family, and three to explore Athens and learn me some history (plus a ten hour layover in Munich).

So goodbye, St. John’s and goodbye half of my undergraduate schooling. It’s been a blast, I’ve learned a lot, and I would do it all over again, 1000 times over.  

I’m a big fan of Stargate, so you can imagine having 2 actors from the show visit our city and be our guests for the weekend, I was on cloud 9.  Especially to finally meet Mr. Dopud, it was the best experience.

You know how people say that their best moment in life was when they accomplished something they didn’t think would ever happen to them.  I thought I had that moment when I published my first book.  And for a while I did.  Especially when a friend from the US was the first to buy my book.  I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t hold in the tears.

Well my best moment was waiting at the airport for Mr. Dopud and finally seeing him come out of those doors and down the escalator.  He smiled, I smiled, it was the perfect moment.  I greeted him with a hug and a coffee.  After the long flight, I knew he’d need one.

My whole weekend was making sure he was having a good time.  And I hope I done a good job.  I’ll have to ask him.  I do have pictures with most of the guests that I can share.  I bet you can guess who I’ll start off with,

And before you all ask, if you all think he’s sexy on TV, well he’s more so in person.

I did take a video of his Q&A’s for both Saturday and Sunday, but they will not be posted online anywhere.  Sorry, but I don’t make these things public without the permission of the guest.  Plus I said I wouldn’t anyway.

We did get out to do some sightseeing.  I asked Darren, SFOTR’s lead organizer, to come with me and Mr. Dopud for the excursion.  Mainly because if there were any history questions asked, I wouldn’t have a clue.  I’m not originally from the city, and I didn’t do history in school, so I didn’t want to look like an idiot.

We took him to Signal Hill first, then headed to Cape Spear.  It was a bit chilly, but not a bad day for it.  I had my camera with me, but didn’t take pictures.  Mr. Dopud had though, so maybe he might tweet some pictures for all to see.  Now I know why I don’t go to Cape Spear that often, I’m still remembering the pain from those stairs.   I need to get in better shape for next time.

Now, I wouldn’t be a proper Stargate fan if I didn’t get a pic with both guys.  Thank you both for making my weekend something I’ll never forget.

Mr. Haglund was an awesome guest.  He was so funny, especially when he and Mr. Jones would overlap their Q&A’s.  I never laughed so hard.  I have to thank Keith and Tara for helping me record their Q&A’s when I was needed elsewhere.  Thank you both for the help.

No it’s not your eyes,, the picture is a little fuzzy.  I really need to invest in getting a better camera.  But nevertheless,, Mr. Keating was a great person to meet.  I never seen many episodes of Star Trek Enterprise, but I’m thinking of starting to when the shows air again.

I had to save this picture for the last.  Not because it’s of me and Mr. Jones,, but because Mr. Haglund took the picture.  I didn’t think it would come out that well, partly because the camera was so close, but it turned out cool.  And so funny. 

Sadly, I don’t have a picture with Ginny McQueen.  I’ll have to ask around to see if there is one of me with her.  If there is, I’ll edit this post and add her in.

I really don’t know how we can top this one.  But it will be interesting to see.

Thanks for popping by.

Until next time,

K.

I feel especially like a tourist walking through this neighbourhood. The Battery is a psychologically gated community; it feels so private and removed from the rest of the city that I reflexively feel shy walking down the street, acutely aware of the fact that even though I live in St. John’s, I don’t live here. It seems a little impetuous to stroll right through what is essentially someone’s back yard, until you realize that Parks Canada has routed the beginning of the North Head trail right across someone’s front porch. You have no choice but to jump over that psychic fence.

If the Battery is St. John’s architecture and aesthetic in miniature, it’s also a concentrated expression of the hybrid* insider/outsider dynamic that plagues residents of the Rock. In February I attended a symposium on poetry and poets in Newfoundland**, appropriately titled “Contemporary Strains”. While the panel blended born Newfoundlanders with long-time residents and total outsiders, to a body everyone agreed at feeling some sort of tension between wanting to identify with this place while feeling excluded at the same time. There are degrees of belonging and spaces of permission, and the borders that define those spaces can be hostile. As one speaker put it (and I’m paraphrasing), “I’ve never been a fisherman, never set foot on a boat other than the ferry, even though I’ve lived in St. John’s my whole life. I grew up in a suburb, never lived in a row house. And somehow this makes me feel less legitimate. Even though I have no reason to feel that way.” There is always the anxiety that wherever you are you’re always searching for that “true” place beyond the gate, that pure point of origin where your citizenship is never in doubt. You have yet to breach the Battery, to make it into those old growth neighbourhoods.

Where does that leave the CFA, the mainlander marooned in a festival of language and tradition that can feel so exclusive as to be impenetrable? On one hand, Newfoundland can live up to the reputation of friendliness and welcome that has been enshrined in tourism campaigns and the memories of visitors who drop in for a sunny week in July. Then, the weather turns: you literally cannot understand the person across the counter from you, and they don’t understand you, you who has dropped in from that golden mainland to critique the inefficiencies, the insularity, the traditions. You don’t understand why they can’t clear the goddamn sidewalks, and They don’t understand why you can’t just leave the jobs here for honest people, goddamn you. The ranks close, and the white blood cells surround you.

Insiders and Outsiders, Townies and CFAs: we are all equally adrift. The solution is to start rowing, to pick a direction and decide what you want the place to mean to you. This is not a question of cultural appropriation, of whitewashing or watering the place down, but negotiating the tripwires that surround the citadels of identity and belonging. You cannot participate in every rite of passage that marks the transition from Mainlander to Islander: I’ve been here the better part of a year and still haven’t been screeched in, haven’t seen a puffin or a whale or an iceberg, or sampled seal flipper pie. But you can still participate, watch the ocean for hours or feel a nostalgic tug when you hear the calling of seabirds or taste the humidity in the morning air. Once you’ve built that relationship, this place is yours, too. I live here. I’ve jumped the fence and I’m heading out on the path to the water’s edge.

“anyone lived in a pretty how town” is an exceptionally good e.e. cummings poem that you should read here. 

*Ah, there’s that word. It always makes me feel like a $5 Academic, but there you go.
**And it was a GOOD TIME.

You could almost think you’d died and gone to a tropical, rather than an Atlantic, island. It’s balmy and breezy, and while the water may not be warm it is spectacular. If most days were like this, I could almost see myself staying here permanently. And then I remember the 50cm snowfalls.